Free Today's Embrace by Linda Lee Chaikin Page A

done so from the beginning without Evy’s encouragement.
    â€œArcilla’s in Bulawayo with Peter, not in Capetown,” Evy troubled to remind Elosia.
    â€œOh quite so, quite so. However, dear girl, if you were to stay at Cape House instead of traipsing off to that Zambezi, Arcilla would have a convincing reason for Sir Julien to let her leave that perilous place.”
    Evy sensed more than one conflict in Elosia’s expectations. On the one hand, Evy was considered selfishly motivated by insisting upon seeing Dr. Jakob at the mission station in Zambezi; but on the other, if she did go, she should choose the comforts of Capetown instead of the treacherous mission station in order to provide Arcilla the excuse she needed to leave Bulawayo for Capetown.
    Elosia shuddered with distaste. “Why England should even bother with that wretched land is beyond me.”
    â€œGold and diamonds,” Evy said with affected sobriety.
    Lady Elosia, who was amply laden with both commodities, changed the subject.
    â€œI saw Mrs. Croft in the village a short while ago. Such a hearty, consoling woman. She did say you wanted to hire her.”
    â€œYes, I asked her to come to work at Rookswood.”
    â€œWe have Mrs. Wetherly. An astute housekeeper. And Bertha has been cook for simply eons. Mrs. Croft’s arrival would only cause short feelings, I’m afraid.”
    â€œI wasn’t thinking of replacing Mrs. Wetherly or Bertha. I was thinking of Mrs. Croft for Rogan and me, in our suite.” Evy tried to keep the tension from her voice and avoided saying
private
suite.
    â€œOh, I should think Rogan is quite used to things the way they are. By the bye, it is quite time for some social entertaining at Rookswood. Since you and Rogan came home, there’s been no entertaining of any kind. London is beginning to talk.”
    Evy’s heart quailed. “Talk? About what?”
    â€œYour lack of entertaining, dear girl. Dinner parties, weekend guests for hunts, or musicals in the Great Hall. You simply must have social commitments. I do hope Rogan isn’t going to take after Lyle and avoid interest in important functions. It is quite expected of him, you know. I’m sure you realize as much. As his wife you’ll do your best for his sake.Of course I realize your upbringing down at the rectory leaves you socially—well, ‘unprepared’ shall we say? Nonetheless, do realize it is considerably important to be accomplished at handling these sorts of social matters with a certain finesse.”
    Evy’s cheeks warmed. “I can assure you that Rogan has hardly been fretting over a lack of dinner parties, Lady Elosia.”
Though you might be
. “Actually, he’s been occupied with South Africa recently.”
    â€œMy dear girl! You quite miss the point.”
    Evy understood well enough. Disparaging comments on her lack of social graces had recurred during the last two months, though they were never heard in Rogan’s presence. Evy was beginning to wish she felt more secure about belonging at Rookswood.
    â€œOne thing about Lady Patricia,” Elosia continued, “although a gloomy girl, and I quite see the reason Rogan did not wish to be saddled with her, is that she does have good blood, you know. Really, quite good. Comes from a long line of lords, by the way. With, I believe, an earl in the family line somewhere … yes, Earl of Radbury. Beheaded at the time of King James. So, I daresay, she knows what is expected of her socially.”
    Though Evy’s humble upbringing and respect for Rogan’s aunt kept a few well-chosen words from spewing past her tongue, her heart was far from enjoying the untroubled peace she portrayed. She could easily have reminded her aunt that if Rogan had wanted to marry a socially adept snob, he could easily have done so.
    â€œEvy, my dear! I hardly think you are listening to a word I’ve spoken,” came the